Relationships between water mass characteristics and estimates of fish population abundance from trawl surveys

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans conducts annual bottom trawl surveys to monitor changes in the abundance of the major commercially important groundfish populations. Some of these surveys have been in operation for almost 20 yr. The estimates from these surveys often indicate rapid changes in abundance over time beyond that expected from the population dynamics of the fish. Much of this interannual change has been interpreted as variation, the magnitude of which has often made it difficult to measure anything but the most severe effects of fishing, pollution or any other intervention on the population. Recent studies have shown that some of this variation may be attributed to changes in catchability of fish due to the effects of environmental variables on fish distribution. Annual changes in abundance as estimated from such field surveys may be confounded by changes in catchability due to annual changes in environmental conditions. In this study, trawl catches of age 4 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from surveys conducted during March 1979–1988 were compared with concurrent measurements of bottom salinity, temperature and depth. Large catches of age 4 cod are more likely to occur in water characterized as the intermediate cold layer defined by salinities of 32–33.5 and temperatures<5°C. This relationship also appears to be modified by depth. We further show that internnual changes in the estimated abundance from the surveys were, in a number of cases, coincident with changes in the proportion of the bottom water composed of the intermediate cold water layer. The implications that these patterns may have on interpreting trends in the estimates of abundance from trawl surveys are discussed.     

超润湿性油水分离膜的研究进展

近年来,根据仿生原理,科研人员通过在材料表面构建微纳米结构成功研制出超润湿性材料,并将其用于含油污水的处理,展示出巨大的应用潜力。本文综述了以金属网、有机微滤膜为基材,改性制备超亲水/超疏油和超疏水/超亲油油水分离膜的方法;总结了这些超润湿性材料在分离含油污水方面的优势、劣势及发展现状;展望了超润湿性油水分离膜领域的发展趋势。指出,超亲水/水下超疏油膜分离材料是未来重要的研究方向。     

耦合技术对炼化企业蒸汽吹扫废气的处理

为了解决炼化企业停车检修蒸汽吹扫废气难处理这一行业难题,采用喷淋水洗、膜分离、低温催化氧化组成的移动式废气处理技术,对某炼厂裂解重馏分罐蒸汽蒸煮和吹扫过程所产生废气进行处理。结果表明:进气非甲烷总烃浓度可达24 000 mg·m~(-3),温度为80～95℃;尾气中非甲烷总烃指标全部低于12 mg·m~(-3),去除率达99%以上,烃类物质的回收率可达75%;喷淋单元的功能是降低废气温度,去除酸性气体并回收重质烃类;膜分离单元有效提升装置运行稳定性,提高有机物回收效率;低温催化技术可对不可凝烃类进行深度处理。该处理技术能够为困扰炼厂的停检修蒸汽吹扫废气的治理提供参考。     

Reclamation of acid sulfate soils using lime-stabilized biosolids

Excavation of sulfidic materials during construction has resulted in acid rock drainage (ARD) problems throughout Virginia. The most extensive documented uncontrolled disturbance at a single location is Stafford Regional Airport (SRAP) in Stafford, Virginia. Beginning in 1998, over 150 ha of sulfidic Coastal Plain sediments were disturbed, including steeply sloping cut surfaces and spoils placed into fills. Acid sulfate soils developed, and ARD generated on-site degraded metal and concrete structures and heavily damaged water quality with effects noted over 1 km downstream. The site was not recognized as sulfidic until 2001 when surface soil sampling revealed pH values ranging from 1.9 to 5.3 and peroxide potential acidity (PPA) values ranging from 1 to 42 Mg CaCO(3) per 1000 Mg material. In February 2002 a water quality program was established in and around the site to monitor baseline pH, EC, NO(3)-N, NH(4)-N, PO(4)-P, Fe, Al, Mn, and SO(4)-S, and initial pH values as low as 2.9 were noted in on-site receiving streams. In the spring and fall of 2002, the site was treated with variable rates of lime-stabilized biosolids, straw-mulch, and acid- and salt-tolerant legumes and grasses. By October 2002, the site was fully revegetated (> or = 90% living cover) with the exception of a few highly acidic outcrops and seepage areas. Surface soil sampling in 2003, 2004, and 2006 revealed pH values typically > 6.0. Water quality responded quickly to treatment, although short-term NH(4)(+) release occurred. Despite heavy loadings, no significant surface water P losses were observed.     

Aircraft emissions and local air quality impacts from takeoff activities at a large International Airport

Real time number concentrations and size distributions of ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter <100 nm) and time integrated black carbon, PM_2.5 mass, and chemical species were studied at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and a background reference site. At LAX, data were collected at the blast fence (∼140 m from the takeoff position) and five downwind sites up to 600 m from the takeoff runway and upwind of the 405 freeway. Size distributions of UFPs collected at the blast fence site showed very high number concentrations, with the highest numbers found at a particle size of approximately 14 nm. The highest spikes in the time series profile of UFP number concentrations were correlated with individual aircraft takeoff. Measurements indicate a more than 100-fold difference in particle number concentrations between the highest spikes during takeoffs and the lowest concentrations when no takeoff is occurring. Total UFP counts exceeded 10⁷ particles cm⁻³ during some monitored takeoffs. Time averaged concentrations of PM_2.5 mass and two carbonyl compounds, formaldehyde and acrolein, were statistically elevated at the airport site relative to a background reference site. Peaks of 15 nm particles, associated with aircraft takeoffs, that occurred at the blast fence were matched with peaks observed 600 m downwind, with time lags of less than 1 min. The results of this study demonstrate that commercial aircraft at LAX emit large quantities of UFP at the lower end of currently measurable particle size ranges. The observed highly elevated UFP concentrations downwind of LAX associated with aircraft takeoff activities have significant exposure and possible health implications.